Seal arrangement for rapid interconnection or axially arranged separation elements

Abstract

A separation module uses a series of separation elements with interconnecting hardware that greatly reduces the time necessary for assembly of interconnected elements and the machining or preparation of an extended part of the module inside diameter for acceptance of the elements. The elements use an interconnection between the modules that provides a sliding seal for first engaging adjacent modules and allowing alignment while a secondary seal is brought into contact and locked to provide a rigid axial attachment between the separation elements. The module arrangement further uses a single outer seal near the end of the module into which the separation elements are inserted to reduce the amount of machining, honing, or sleeving necessary to seal the module against by-passing of feed or impermeable components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A separation element for joining adjacent separation elements into a string of multiple elements in an elongated separation module, said separation element comprising: a permeable separation body;   a permeate channel in communication with a first side of said separation body for collecting separated permeate;   a permeate passage in communication with said permeate channel for communicating said permeate channel with one side of the element;   a retantate channel on a second side of said permeable separation body for distributing feed to said body and conducting retantate from said body;   a retantate passage communicating said retantate channel with at least one end of said element;   a retantate connection at one end of said element communicating with said retantate passage;   a permeate connection at said one end of said element communicating with said permeate passage;   a first seal structure located about said retantate connection for providing sealing of the element with an adjacent element and a second seal structure located about said permeate connection, at least one of said first and second seal structures establishing a slidable seal between adjacent elements for permitting relative movement between elements while adjacent elements are engaged across at least one of said seal structures; and,   an axial restraint for engaging adjacent elements and maintaining the adjacent element in sealed contact about said first and second seal structures.   
     
     
       2. The element of claim 1 wherein said permeable separation body comprises a spiral wound membrane. 
     
     
       3. The element of claim 2 wherein a shroud having a degree of impermeablility at least equal to the spiral wound membrane surrounds the outside of said spiral wound membrane. 
     
     
       4. The element of claim 2 wherein said retantate passage comprises an annular volume at a longitudinal end of said spiral wound membrane. 
     
     
       5. The element of claim 1 wherein the permeate passage comprises a central permeate conduit. 
     
     
       6. The element of claim 1 wherein said element has an outer perimeter and said retantate connection extends substantially around the outer perimeter of said element. 
     
     
       7. The element of claim 1 wherein said slidable seal comprises a cylindrical surface having a centerline parallel to the centerline of said element and said surface is adapted to provide radial sealing pressure to a gasket for permitting relative axial movement between adjacent modules during installation. 
     
     
       8. The element of claim 1 wherein said first seal structure comprises an annularly extended surface and said surface is adapted to provide axial sealing pressure to a gasket. 
     
     
       9. The element of claim 8 wherein said first seal structure is adapted to provide said axial restraint. 
     
     
       10. A separation element for use in series to join adjacent elements into a string of multiple elements in an elongated separation module, said element comprising: an annular separation body made of permeable separation material and defining a permeate channel for collecting separated permeate and defining a retantate channel for distributing feed to said body and conducting retantate from said body said separation body having a central axis;   a permeate conduit extending coaxially with the central axis of said separation body and in communication with said permeate channel;   a first retantate chamber and a second retantate chamber at, respectively, a first end and a second end of said separation body;   first and second retantate connections at, respectively, said first and second ends of said element, said first and second connections communicating, respectively, with said first and said second retantate chambers, both retantate connections defining either an axially restraining seal having an axial seal surface for supplying axial sealing pressure with a cooperating surface on an adjacent element and having an axial restraint for cooperating with the type of axial restraint at the opposite end of the element and axially restraining an adjacent element or defining a radial seal having a radial seal surface for supplying radial sealing pressure with a cooperating surface associated with an adjacent element; and   first and second permeate connections at, respectively, first and second ends of said permeate conduit, said first and second permeate connections defining a radial seal where the retantate connections define an axially restraining seal or defining an axially restraining seal where the retantate connections define a radial seal.   
     
     
       11. The element of claim 10 wherein said annular separation body comprises a spiral wound membrane. 
     
     
       12. The element of claim 11 wherein a shroud having a degree of impermeablility at least equal to the spiral wound membrane surrounds the outside of said spiral wound membrane. 
     
     
       13. The element of claim 10 wherein said first and second retantate connections surround, respectively, the first and second retantate chambers. 
     
     
       14. The element of claim 10 wherein said axially restraining seal and said radial seal are adapted to provide pressure to an O-ring gasket. 
     
     
       15. The element of claim 10 wherein said axially restraining seal includes a structure that provides a detent for restraining disengagement of adjacent modules. 
     
     
       16. The element of claim 10 wherein said radial seal defines a first circumferential band that is adapted to be surrounded by or surround a second circumferential band defined by an interconnect tube for radially compressing an O-ring gasket between said first and second bands. 
     
     
       17. The element of claim 16 wherein said interconnect tube is not an integral part of said element. 
     
     
       18. A seal housing for sealing a separation element in a vessel wherein the separation element is of the type comprising a permeable separation body in communication with a permeate passage that delivers permeate to a permeate connection at one end of the element and in communication with a retantate passage that communicates with a retantate connection at the same end of the element for delivering or withdrawing feed or retantate and the separation element defines separate seal structures establishing a slidable seal with the seal housing for permitting relative movement between the separation element and the housing when the seal housing and separation element are engaged across at least one of the seal structures and at least one of the seal structures defines an element axial restraint for engaging the separation element and the seal housing in sealed contact across the seal structures, said seal housing comprising: a housing retantate connection defined by said housing;   a housing permeate connection defined by said housing;   a vessel seal surface bordering the perimeter of said housing and surrounding said housing retantate connection and said housing permeate connection;   a first seal structure providing a sliding seal structure retained by said housing at said housing retantate connection or said housing permeate connection and cooperating with the corresponding permeate or retantate connection on the element;   a second seal structure retained by said housing at the other of said housing retantate connection or said housing permeate connection and cooperating with the corresponding permeate or retantate connection on the element; and,   a housing axial restraint for engaging the cooperating element axial restraint on said element and maintaining the element and housing in sealed contact across the first and second seal structures.   
     
     
       19. The housing of claim 18 wherein the housing retantate connection surrounds said housing permeate connection and defines the first or second seal structure as an integral part of said housing. 
     
     
       20. The housing of claim 19 wherein said permeate connection retains said first seal structure, the first seal structure is to act in conjunction with said housing permeate connection to retain the first seal structure in the permeate connection on the element, said housing defines said second seal structure as an integral part of said seal structure, and said second seal structure defines said housing axial restraint. 
     
     
       21. The housing of claim 20 wherein said second structure defines an annular surface for axially compressing an O-ring and variable compression of said O-ring provides a biasing force for operation of a detent that keeps the element engaged with the seal housing. 
     
     
       22. The housing of claim 18 wherein said vessel seal surface is formed to be retained completely in said vessel and retains a gasket to impose a radial sealing force between the inner wall of the vessel and the outer circumference of the housing. 
     
     
       23. The housing of claim 22 wherein said gasket is a lip seal type gasket. 
     
     
       24. A module for containing a plurality of interconnected separation elements said module comprising: an elongated vessel;   a plurality of axially extended separation elements located within said vessel and serially interconnected to maintain segregated axial flow of at least two fluids between adjacent elements, said elements being interconnected by a first element seal that maintains segregation of a first fluid of said at least two fluids, by a second element seal that maintains segregation of a second fluid of said at least two fluids and permits relative movement between the elements during interconnection when one of said first or second element seal is engaged and by an interelement axial restraint that engages adjacent elements and maintains sealing contact between the elements at said first and second element seals when arranged in a locking position; and,   a seal housing located at the outside end of an outermost element having sealed communication with a permeate outlet and with one of a feed inlet or a retantate outlet, having a housing seal surface located about the periphery of said seal housing for establishing a seal between said vessel and the periphery of said housing and an axial interconnection for engaging the series of interconnected separation elements through the outermost element.   
     
     
       25. The module of claim 24 wherein said seal housing is independent of said outermost element, said seal housing contains a first housing seal and a second housing seal that cooperate with said first element seal and said second element seal on said outermost element to provide sealed communication to said permeate outlet and to said feed or retantate connection and said axial interconnection can engage and disengage the axial restraint of said outermost element. 
     
     
       26. The module of claim 24 wherein said vessel has a relatively smooth bore section formed at at least one end and said seal housing retains a gasket about its circumference that is radially compressed by contact with said bore section. 
     
     
       27. The module of claim 26 wherein said smooth bore section has a length that is less than the diameter of the vessel. 
     
     
       28. The module of claim 26 wherein a housing interconnect tube extends between said housing and said outermost element to establish said second element seal and a detachable collar encircles the housing interconnect tube to engage said seal housing and permit withdrawal of said plurality of interconnected separation elements from said vessel. 
     
     
       29. The module of claim 26 wherein said first element seal and said seal housing are defined by a seal structure that provides said interelement axial restraint. 
     
     
       30. The module of claim 29 wherein said seal structure has an annular surface for axially compressing a gasket and said second element seal has a cylindrical surface for radially compressing a gasket and providing relative axial movement between said module and another module. 
     
     
       31. The module of claim 30 wherein said seal structure provides a detent arranged such that axial compression of said gasket provides a biasing force for said detent. 
     
     
       32. The module of claim 30 wherein said cylindrical surface is defined in said second element seal by a permeate conduit that extends through the center of the element. 
     
     
       33. The module of claim 24 wherein said elements contain spiral wound separation elements. 
     
     
       34. The module of claim 24 wherein an element interconnect tube extends between elements to establish said second element seal. 
     
     
       35. The module of claim 24 wherein said first element seal coaxially surrounds said second element seal for coaxial segregated fluid flow through said elements.